Drewry's latest World Container Index (WCI) update shows a 3% decrease, bringing the composite index to $3,273 per 40ft container as of 6 February 2025. This figure is 68% lower than its peak of $10,377 in September 2021 but remains 130% above the pre-pandemic average of $1,420 in 2019. The year-to-date average is currently $3,638 per container, surpassing the 10-year average of $2,878, which was influenced by the exceptional freight market conditions during the COVID-19 period.
Photo: Dreamstime.
Freight rates have declined across multiple key routes. The cost of shipping from Rotterdam to New York fell by 10% to $2,469 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam dropped 5% to $3,125. Additionally, the Rotterdam to Shanghai and Shanghai to Genoa routes saw decreases of 4%, bringing rates to $498 and $4,236, respectively.
Table: Drewry.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles to Shanghai route declined 2% to $707. Smaller reductions were also recorded on other major routes, with rates from New York to Rotterdam, Shanghai to Los Angeles, and Shanghai to New York decreasing by 1% to $833, $4,717, and $6,212 per 40ft container, respectively.
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Drewry
www.drewry.co.uk